LIVE from The Housewares Show

Believe it or not, one of the biggest thrills of the year for me is being at the Housewares Show in Chicago and seeing what will be new in cooking, storing, and serving gear for the next year. Because I'm anxious to hit the floor running for the second day, I'm just going to give you a quick rundown of the trends I've already seen and when I get back home, I'll give you a more complete report.

First of all, it's all about color. Expect to see everything from gadgets to toasters in bright shades of orange, blue, red, and purple.

Manufacturers are really thinking about solving problems for you, from organizing your drawers, to preventing spills on the countertop, to helping you manage portion size. I even saw a salt shaker that will keep you from overpouring.

Kids are cooking! Cooking tools and cookbooks for kids continue to be a big trend. Also seen at the show: innovative dinnerware for little ones, including glass dishes and bowls that the manufacturer claims just can't be broken. You know we'll be testing that one at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute (GHRI).

What did I see that I loved? A cone-shaped charcoal grill from Bodum (in bright colors, of course) with a rotisserie... as far as I know it's the first of its kind. Emeril, and yes celebrity cookware is still hot, hot, hot, is introducing a slow cooker that boosts the heat if you lift the lid to check on the heat level. And I couldn't help lusting after the Nambe dinnerware in organic shapes--loved the one with a marble pattern.

Anyway the show is calling..stay tuned for more news in the days to come.

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